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Explore reverse mortgage pros and cons and get reverse mortgage explained.
A reverse mortgage is a loan. You are borrowing against your home equity. However, unlike traditional mortgages, with a reverse mortgage you do not have to pay back the money borrowed as long as you are living in the home.
When you get a reverse mortgage, you are borrowing your own home equity. (Home equity is the difference between what your home is worth and the amount you owe on your home.) So if your home is appraised at $300,000 and you still owe $50,000 on the mortgage, then you have $250,000 in home equity.
Use a reverse mortgage calculator to estimate your own loan amount. These systems estimate the amount of money you get with an equation using the appraised value of your home, the amount of money you owe on the home, your age and current interest rates.
For many retirees, the most important aspect of their retirement portfolios is stable investments. But what if you could find an investment that not only grows, but is also guaranteed by the federal government? Enter: reverse mortgages, and specifically the line of credit option available through the federally-insured Home Equity Conversion Mortgage pr oduct. The […]
One of the biggest benefits to the home equity conversion mortgage program is that, unlike conventional mortgages or home equity loans or lines of credit, you are not required to make monthly payments toward the balance of the loan. The federally-insured HECM program requires that loans be repaid when the borrower dies, leaves the home, […]
A reverse mortgage is a loan. You are borrowing against your home equity. However, unlike traditional mortgages, with a reverse mortgage you do not have to pay back the money borrowed as long as you are living in the home. If a reverse mortgage is right for you, it can offer great financial relief. Reverse Mortgage […]
Updated May 2025
Over time, many people have developed misconceptions about reverse mortgages based on inaccurate media coverage. The truth is reverse mortgages have never been safer and they’re a viable retirement option when they are understood. Here are several common misconceptions about reverse mortgages as well as the truths behind them. Misconception: The bank (or government) owns your […]
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will be instituting major changes to the Reverse Mortgage program. Changes taking effect this month, effective September 30, 2013 include: Limits to the amount of money that you can access in the first year of the loan A new mortgage insurance fee structure which may mean higher […]
The Reverse Mortgage Stabilization Act was signed into law on August 9th. As we’ve reported earlier, this new law gives the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) the authority to strengthen the HECM Reverse Mortgage program by making significant, but not overly drastic adjustments. We expect HUD to announce these changes before the end […]
The devastation in Oklahoma from the massive tornados is overwhelming. It is a human tragedy with entire neighborhoods flattened. Catastrophes like this serve as an important reminder to make sure you have the proper preparations in place should a natural disaster strike your home. Evacuations plans, emergency supplies and communication protocols are important. Equally important […]
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